Naturally Curious Erroneous Hiatus Explanation

Greetings, Naturally Curious readers. I wish to clarify yesterday’s inaccurate “Hiatus” post. I had surgery scheduled on my shoulder for next week, which would have curtailed any photographic activity and blog-writing for quite some time. The improvement in my shoulder and the thought of a spring and summer without a camera in hand have convinced me that surgery could and should be postponed, hopefully for a long time, but definitely through the summer. I was in the middle of writing a post about having to stop the blog for a while due to surgery when suddenly, after typing in just the title, the post was sent to you without my even knowing it. In the time since that happened I made my decision to put off surgery. My apologies for the confusion. Here’s to more spring discoveries, photographs and uninterrupted blog posts!

Sounds like a fortuitous IT mishap, in the end. Glad you’ve decided to wait and see with your shoulder. My shoulder, too, really started acting up this winter after many weeks on the keyboard, lifting my grandchild, and cumulative effects of hauling photo equipment around. After surgery was offered as an option, more mindful pacing of all shoulder-involved activities has turned it around. Hoping you’ll enjoy the months ahead in comfort!

Hopefully you can postpone forever but if not, I am just recovering from shoulder surgery and my surgery date of November 1 allowed me to still hike all winter and to be recovered for all activities by now. Good luck and thank you for a wonderful blog.

Mary, thanks for explaining the worrisome mini-message. I’m glad your shoulder is doing better and that you can postpone any surgery … and that we will benefit from your eye, ear, heart & prose. Wishing you well as spring brings great changes in the world around us.

That’s wonderful if you can postpone surgery, Mary. Who knows? Maybe your shoulder will keep improving in the meantime! I’m having knee replacement in 10 days. NOT looking forward to the long recovery period.

That is an awesome photo of the (bull?) frog…Frogs and Toads have such amazing eyes. Would have liked to see you taking that photo! Knee deep? Joint problems are so annoying…hope your shoulder keeps feeling better.

Sounds like you’re really going to appreciate this season! May all go well with your shoulder. Our first grandchild is due to appear around the beginning of August. We’ve 10 of your children’s books to give him. Looking forward to sharing those! Thank you so much.

Glad to hear your shoulder is better. I do not know the cause of the problem, but have now recovered from a shoulder injury and knee injury using acupuncture and some chiropractic care. Surgery is not an option I can take, so having found that with support, my body can heal, has been huge.

So happy to hear of your thoughtful decision and, hopefully, more time to heal on your own. We’ll all enjoy our summer more knowing that you are keeping us informed of the
Natural world. Thank you, Mary!

Sounds like a wise and happy decision. Physical therapy can work wonders, but if surgery is needed I know from my husband’s recent experience that new surgical techniques and a good PT regimen make recovery much easier. Enjoy the season and thank you for enabling us to enjoy it even more!

Dear Smart Woman, Definitely get out of any shoulder surgery!!! Try any and every holistic supplements that are targeted to the rotor cup agony. I have had this for 10 years and refused to consider surgery. There is good stuff out there that will help without addicting you in any way…..except for the joy of less discomfort continuing! And if you can tolerate needles (I hate them and so I refuse!) acupuncture is an ancient and effective help for many. And please remember to trust your body feedback. Talk to your area of agony. Beg it to lessen. Or even threaten it!! Keep in touch with the real, natural world that your body recognizes and your soul praises daily.

Let me know IF I can help you in any way at all. I do pray well…..daily in the woods!

Thank you so much, Sarah. I will use the summer to try and find a way to alleviate the pain without going under the knife. It may be short-sighted, as I have a total tear which won’t repair itself, but I have to at least try to see if I can find a way to live with it. Appreciate your thoughts and suggestions!

Dear Mary, Sorry about your shoulder. I hurt my rotator cuff recently and am slowly healing it with the help of an exercise therapist, and avoiding doing anything that hurts it while it heals itself. This no-invasive treatment seems to be working. Slow but no surgery. Your shoulder injury may be entirely different in which case I apologize for my unasked for advice! 🙂 Always read and always love your blog. Betsy Janeway

Mary, I don’t know what’s wrong with your shoulder but an MRI showed that I had a complete tear in my rotator cuff which could “only be repaired with surgery” and a many months recovery. I too, decided against it and instead started going to the gym to lift weights and improve my shoulder muscles. Voila…the problem no longer exists and I can do just as much now as I ever could….no problems in the last 15-years.

Thank you so much for telling me your story. I also have a complete tear which is why I’ve had such torment about whether or not to have the surgery, as I’ve been told it’s the only solution…I’m hoping PT can make a difference. I may be dreaming, but have to give it a try!

Mary, That is all good advice and good wishes above. I was also suffering from shoulder pain, and invested in a medicine pillow, which helped a lot. It allows one to lie on either side without putting any pressure on your shoulder. I’d be happy to lend you mine as it is quite an investment. It takes up quite a bit of room in the bed. Check it out online, at medicine.com, and contact me, if you’d like to borrow mine. I live in Quechee. Best of luck and thanks for all you do!

Mary,
I, too, was told a couple of years ago that I needed shoulder surgery. Fortunately, my brother who is a physical therapist in a different state recommended PRP, platelet rich plasma therapy. I found a reputable practice in Portsmouth, NH, had it done, and had a much shorter recovery and a much less invasive procedure. Feel free to contact me for specifics.

Go Mary! I whole heartedly agree with the suggestions of trying alternatives before electing surgery. It sounds like you have time. And who knows, you just may not need it!
Be well and I look forward to more photos and informative blog posts from you. Thanks so much!

> Mary Holland posted: “Greetings, Naturally Curious readers. I wish to > clarify yesterday’s inaccurate “Hiatus” post. I had surgery scheduled on my > shoulder for next week, which would have curtailed any photographic > activity and blog-writing for quite some time. The improvemen” >

So happy to hear you have decided against surgery. Take it from one who has had some in the past, nothing ever came out right. If you bought something in a store and it wasn’t right you’d take it back and exchange or a refund. Not with medical stuff. Be well and keep the camera rolling.

so glad it was just a glitch. sometimes one gets something like that and it means the person sending the post has been hacked. so glad that didn’t happen to you AND that your shoulder is better. look forward to all the posts coming my way!

I too am glad for you that you are turning back from that big choice, as long as possible, because there can be unwanted complications and trouble from it—no panacea! I offer the idea of hanging, hanging kinds of stretches, as mild as necessary, to counteract the problem. We are descended from brachiators, tree climbers, and still have a lot of the structure and muscles designed for those kinds of movements—monkeys through the trees. A lot of dance moves and exercises do some of the same and can prevent and relieve worsening problems.

What a PERFECT illustration for that post! I’m so glad your shoulder is doing well enough to put off surgery and hope you have a good physical therapist who can work you through to good health without the need for slicing and dicing. We would miss you horribly! But what we want is Mary in good health, whatever it takes. Be well – and thanks for keeping all of us so well focused on the out-of-doors and what matters!